European UnionWho or what is the EU?

Europe & European Union0European Union = EUThe European Union is a group of countries whose governments work together.It's a bit like a club. To join you have to agree to follow the rules and in return you get certain benefits.Each country has to pay money to be a member. They mostly do this through taxes.The EU uses the money to change the way people live and do business in Europe.Countries join because they think that they will benefit from the changes the EU makes.

What does the EU do?

0A lot of what the EU does is about bringing people in Europe closer together. It tries to make it easier for Europeans to buy and sell things to each other. This is done by changing the rules that control trade.

Five big things the EU has set out to do.

1. Promote economic and social progress.Help people earn enough money and get treated fairly.2. Speak for the European Union on the international scene. By working as a group the EU hopes that Europe will be listened to more by other countries.3. Introduce European citizenship. Anyone from a member state is a citizen of the EU and gets special rights.4. Develop Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice.Help Europeans to live in safety, without the threat of war.5. Maintain and build on established EU law. Make laws that protect peoples rights in the member countries.

EU Institutions

0The European ParliamentThis makes laws and helps to decide how much money the EU should spend. It also checks that all the other parts of the EU are working fairly.Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected every five years by the citizens of the member states. The European Parliament meets each monthPeople of the EU are represented by this institution.

EU Institutions

0Council of the European UnionThis is where the EU's big decisions are normally made.It's like a school council, but instead of people from each year there are people from each country.This institution represents the member states of the EUWho turns up depends on what the council is talking about. If they are talking about farms then the 28 ministers for farming would go along, one from the government of each country.

EU Institutions

0The European CommissionThe European Commission does the day-to-day work of running the EU and represents the common interest of the EU: ‘Civil service’.It does things like making sure that that the laws the European Parliament passes are used properly.Members are nominated by the government of their own member state. BUT do not represent their member state.

EU Institutions

0European CouncilConsists of the Heads of Government of each member state (28) and the president of the European Commission. It gives the necessary impulse for the development and sets out general objectives and priorities for the European Union.

0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fL9SPNRCrg

Why are there 12 stars on the European flag?

A. Ourapanos, the mythical first European, has 12 sons.

B. The union is administered by 12 commissioners

C. To represent 12 member states

D. It is a number that represents perfection and completeness

Which of these is not part of the European Union?

A. The European CouncilB. The European CommissionC. The Council of Europe D. The Council

Which six countries were the founding members of the

European Union (EU)?A. Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands &

West-Germany.

B. France, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain & Croatia

C. Italy, West- Germany, United Kingdom, France, Austria & Belarus

D. Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark & Spain

Both Finland and Norway are members of the European Union.

A. TrueB. False

When did Euro banknotes and coins first come into circulation?

A. 1 st of January 2000B. 1st of April 1998C. 1st of January 2002D. 31st of December 2010

Is there a European Army ?

A. YesB. No

How many official languages are there in the EU?

A. 13B. 24C. 9D. 28

Last question for double points!

Match the EU parliament members and their counties.

Francois Hollande President of France

Heinz FischerPresident of AustriaMark Rutte

President of the Netherlands

Angela Dorothea MerkelChancellor of Germany